Attention if you have renewed your paid membership on the site but it has not taken effect within 24 hours please send the tech account a private message here to get your account corrected and for further instruction. There is a connectivity error with Paypal and the site

I just got a 1969 commercial and while it is in excellent shape it does have the rollmarks filled in with something white. I'm assuming that this was done by a previous owner to make them stand out. How did they do this and is there any way to get rid of the white and turn it back to factory? The gun is in nice shape so I need to keep the finish.

I've seen chalk applied as well as white out used to correct typing errors. I think 824tsv is right. Nail polish remover or acetone gently applied
Your pistol is a late 1968 or early shipped 1969. I believe it's an earl 1969 given the slight coloration swirl of the stocks which was peculiar to some 69 models. It's not easily seen, you have to study it for a second or two

Thanks guys. I'll try some acetone/nail polish remover in the next few days and see if I can get some better pics. I'm very pleased with this gun. It is in great shape and the only thing I really don't like are the white rollmarks. If that comes off then I will be a happy camper.

Thanks guys. I'll try some acetone/nail polish remover in the next few days and see if I can get some better pics. I'm very pleased with this gun. It is in great shape and the only thing I really don't like are the white rollmarks. If that comes off then I will be a happy camper.

I'm no expert but I believe that the grips are aftermarket.

You are correct, those are not factory stocks for 1969, no pony on them .

Whitening the markings was also common on pistols being displayed at shows or photographed for a publication. A toothpick will help remove some of the more stubborn material that refuses to melt from the acetone.

__________________Avoid the temptation to replace everything on your brand-new 1911 just to make it "better". Know what you're changing out and why. You may spend a lot of money fixing things that weren't broken to begin with. Shoot at least 500 rounds through it first, then decide what you don't like and want to improve. Regarding vintage 1911s, pre-1970 pistols are highly collectible in original, unaltered condition and should NEVER be refinished or modified as it completely ruins their monetary value.

__________________
The Wizard
Air Dropable AND Ground Recoverable
Necat Omnes! Deus Suos Agnoscet.
The application of the proper amount of high explosives can solve any problem.
Colt M1911A1 - As American as Skippy Extra Crunchy and a Ford Mustang.

The checkering is too fine to be pre-war. I'm guessing they're aftermarket post-war grips available from companies like Herretts that were popular back in the day. Many guys who bought a new Government Model back in the 1950s and 1960s couldn't take those ugly brown plastic grips off and throw them away fast enough. That's one reason why they're so hard to find these days. The fact that so many of them shrank and wouldn't fit on the frame anymore is another.

__________________Avoid the temptation to replace everything on your brand-new 1911 just to make it "better". Know what you're changing out and why. You may spend a lot of money fixing things that weren't broken to begin with. Shoot at least 500 rounds through it first, then decide what you don't like and want to improve. Regarding vintage 1911s, pre-1970 pistols are highly collectible in original, unaltered condition and should NEVER be refinished or modified as it completely ruins their monetary value.

I was able to get some time and remove the white from the rollmarks. Acetone and toothbrush worked well. The serial number took some work but the slide rollmarks came off easily. Acetone sure cleans sucks out the oil. I rubbed in a lot of oil afterwards.

Here it is all cleaned up. There are certainly a few niggles to the finish but that just means that I could afford it and I don't need to treat it with kid gloves.

Looks way better now. Aside from highlighting the markings for display or photography purposes I never could understand why so many people did that.

__________________Avoid the temptation to replace everything on your brand-new 1911 just to make it "better". Know what you're changing out and why. You may spend a lot of money fixing things that weren't broken to begin with. Shoot at least 500 rounds through it first, then decide what you don't like and want to improve. Regarding vintage 1911s, pre-1970 pistols are highly collectible in original, unaltered condition and should NEVER be refinished or modified as it completely ruins their monetary value.

Looks way better now. Aside from highlighting the markings for display or photography purposes I never could understand why so many people did that.

The same reason they put white wall tires on cars in the 50's and 60's!

__________________
The Wizard
Air Dropable AND Ground Recoverable
Necat Omnes! Deus Suos Agnoscet.
The application of the proper amount of high explosives can solve any problem.
Colt M1911A1 - As American as Skippy Extra Crunchy and a Ford Mustang.

Chawk, looks much nicer with the highlighting removed. In fact it makes my new today 1911C look like, well, like a rather poor attempt to recreate your fine commercial. I sure hope I warm up to the new Classic, but pretty sure I will.

I can't tell on your mag, any marking on the top / front of baseplate? Congratulations on your '69C.

I believe the magazine is correct. Font looks OK, separation of the letters and has both a decimal and a period as it should for at 1960s magazine. Base looks like a dull finish which is correct. If you look at the magazine and see the base has a flat finish running up the magazine about a quarter inch, as much as a half inch or so, it's OEM

NOTICE TO USERS OF THIS SITE: By continuing to use this site, you certify that you have read and agree to abide by the Legal Terms of Use. All information, data, text or other materials ("Content") posted to this site by any users are the sole responsibility of those users. 1911Forum does not guarantee the accuracy, integrity, or quality of such Content.